Students have urged to start thinking about how they can use the capital markets to help achieve their future goals.

Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji, Barry Whiteside, gave the advice during the ‘Be Money Wise’ school competition at the Valelevu Grounds in Nasinu yesterday.

“I have got to say that it is never too early to start saving and forming a savings habit,” he stressed.

“By doing this, you will be able to set yourself goals that can positively impact on your financial future and that of your family and future family.”

The students of different schools were introduced to the concept of the capital markets, where the question of when you need money where do you go was asked.

“Capital markets are similar to the market where we go to buy food and vegetables, because this is where people gather to buy or sell things,” Mr Whiteside said.

“However, instead of buying and selling food and vegetables, in a capital market, they buy and sell ‘financial instruments’.”

“In Fiji we have a small and developing Capital Market and currently there are three main types of financial instruments that are sold. These are equities or stocks, bonds and units.”

The ‘Be Money Wise programme’ is a campaign being run by the Reserve Bank and is part of the capital awareness platform which targets school students.

Their aim is to promote the importance of acquiring good money management skills with a particular focus on understanding the concept of investing and all the various investment products here in Fiji.

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